HR0350 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0350 LRB102 18643 MST 27011 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Everett Atkinson on the occasion of his 99th birthday on June 5, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Everett Atkinson was born in the home of his parents, Emery Pearl and Hallie Winnifred Moore Atkinson, who lived on then-muddy Harmony Road; he was the eldest of four boys; he graduated from Barren's one-room county school when he was 12 years old and in the eighth grade; and

WHEREAS, Everett Atkinson attended Mt. Vernon Township High School for his freshman year until his mother became ill with pneumonia; the doctor was unable to reach her due to the mud-laden roads, and she passed away at age 33; he dropped out of school to assist his father on the dairy farm with chores and with raising his three younger siblings; and

WHEREAS, On the day Everett Atkinson overheard the radio announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he told his father he wanted to enlist in the Army; he then hitch-hiked to Scott Air Force Base on a sunny Sunday in May 1942 and officially enlisted in the U.S. Army in the Metropolitan Building in East St. Louis; given the choice of artillery, infantry, cavalry, or air corps, he chose the latter; and

WHEREAS, By July 21, 1942, Everett Atkinson was appointed Student Squadron Sargent Major and officially became an Aviation Cadet on November 2, 1942; he then took additional training as an electrical specialist and applied for Cadet; he had to pass Aviation Entrance Exams, along with 25 other servicemen; he was concerned because he had only completed ninth grade, but he was pleasantly surprised to find out that he was one of five or six who had passed the exam; and

WHEREAS, Everett Atkinson's desire to learn and excel in every facet of aviation led to higher learning and experiences with pilots, navigators, bombardiers, ground prep school, and advanced single-engine classes at numerous bases across the United States; he ultimately became a Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on August 30, 1943 and became a Flight Instructor in the Army Air Forces; during that time, he was elected to the Honor Committee and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class; and

WHEREAS, While on a 10-day leave, Everett Atkinson met and fell in love with Doris Louise McCauley; they said their vows on December 3, 1943 and enjoyed many years of matrimony until she passed on April 24, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Everett Atkinson was honorably discharged on February 15, 1946 as a First Lieutenant and returned to Mt. Vernon, where he and Doris raised their family of three children, Ruth Ann Clark-Wheeler, Rebecca Louise Hill, and Dennis Dale Atkinson; the family now includes seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Everett Atkinson provided for his family by working for his father's dairy farm, which had been owned by his wife's family until 1949; he purchased the farm in 1965; and

WHEREAS, Everett Atkinson had recently served with Mentors 4 Kids and is currently volunteering in Hospice for Veterans; and

WHEREAS, In October 2018, Everett Atkinson visited Washington, D.C. as part of the Veterans Honor Flight; and

WHEREAS, Everett Atkinson's view of life and tragedies faced by all is "hang in there, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and the sun comes up every morning in the East. There are still many chances to love and enjoy life."; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Everett Atkinson on the occasion of his 99th birthday, and we thank him for his years of service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Evertt Atkinson as an expression of our respect and esteem.